Cobalt africa6/20/2023 ![]() ![]() Take for example child labour in mining: under international law it is considered one of the worst forms of child labour because of its extreme health, safety and developmental risks. Industry can be a powerful force for positive change and is morally obligated to do its part to end forced labour, human trafficking, child labour and other kinds of modern slavery. It’s morally rightĮveryone everywhere should have the right to a life free from all forms of modern slavery. In this article, we present six reasons why industry must address modern slavery in DRC cobalt supply chains. Industry has been a key partner in our efforts, although much more participation and resources are needed. An estimated 35,000 children work in DRC’s cobalt mine sites.įor more than a decade, our organisation, Pact, has worked to stop child labour and other exploitative practices in mining. ![]() Across DRC, approximately one million people are estimated to be living as modern slaves, with many of the working practices in ASM – and in some cases large cobalt mines – falling under this umbrella.Īlthough there isn’t a universal definition for modern slavery, the term generally refers to the most extreme forms of exploitation, including forced labour, debt bondage, human trafficking and child labour – the last of which is especially present in DRC ASM cobalt supply chains. Unfortunately, given its often hazardous, exploitative and informal working conditions, DRC’s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) cobalt sector is also particularly vulnerable to modern slavery. The Democratic Republic of Congo supplies almost three-quarters of the world’s cobalt, with about 20-30% extracted by an estimated 200,000 to 250,000 artisanal and small-scale miners who toil under arduous conditions.Ĭobalt is critically important to the global economy and the Green Industrial Revolution, as it is a key component in rechargeable batteries, such as those used in electric vehicles. Amayèle Dia is a Protection Senior Program Officer at Pact. James McQuilken is a Senior Program Officer at Pact. ![]()
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